When to plant in East Grand Rapids, MI
USDA Zone 6aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in East Grand Rapids, Michigan — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
In zone 6a, East Grand Rapids gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
Frost probability
E GRAND RAPIDS · 1991–2020The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are East Grand Rapids’s own odds, recorded at E GRAND RAPIDS.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 31 | May 18 | May 3 | Sep 20 | Oct 1 | Oct 12 |
| 32°F | May 23 | May 6 | Apr 24 | Sep 29 | Oct 10 | Oct 25 |
| 28°F | May 13 | Apr 27 | Apr 11 | Oct 8 | Oct 23 | Nov 7 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in East Grand Rapids, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 8 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.
East Grand Rapids planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in East Grand Rapids, MI?
East Grand Rapids's average last spring frost falls near May 6 — the 50% mark at 32°F in the 1991–2020 normals. Hold tender transplants until the risk has passed, then plant out.
When is the first fall frost in East Grand Rapids, MI?
The first fall frost in East Grand Rapids typically arrives around October 10 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is East Grand Rapids in?
East Grand Rapids is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. In zone 6a, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.
How long is the growing season in East Grand Rapids?
East Grand Rapids has about 157 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (May 6) and first fall frost (October 10).
When should I plant tomatoes in East Grand Rapids?
For East Grand Rapids, sow tomatoes indoors about March 11–March 25 and move the seedlings out around May 13, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in East Grand Rapids
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to East Grand Rapids’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Grand Rapids · 4 km
- Kentwood · 7 km
- Forest Hills · 10 km
- Wyoming · 10 km
- Northview · 10 km
- Comstock Park · 12 km
- Grandville · 13 km
- Cutlerville · 13 km
Frost dates recorded at E GRAND RAPIDS, 1 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in East Grand Rapids, MI — Frost Dates & Zone 6a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00202375. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/michigan/east-grand-rapids.